Folding mechanism



May 1l 1926.

w. EvENsl-:N

FOLDING MECHANI SM Filed March 16, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Ifa IN VEN TOR v A oRNEY May 11 1926. l 1,584,360

W. EvENsEN FOLDING MECHANISM Filed March 16, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 e, xx

m5 /Q/OMZM ATT NEY Patented May ll, 1926.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM EVENSEN, 0F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS', ASSIGNOR TO COSS PRINTING PRESS COMPANY, A. CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

FOLDING MECHANISM.

Application led March 16, 1923. Serial No. 625,578.

The invention relates to a novel and useful rotary folding mechanism, and more especially in certain of its aspects to` such a mechanism for rapidly and easily and correctly folding newspapers and the like which vary greatly in the number of pages.

Objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part hereinafter and in part will be obvious herefrom, or may be learned by practice with the invention, the same being realized and attained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations pointed out in the appended claims.

rl`he invention consists in the novel parts, constructions, arrangements, combinations and improvements herein shown and described.

The accompanying drawings, referred yto herein and constituting a part hereof, illustrate one embodiment ofthe invention, and together with the description, serve to eX- plain the principles of the invention.

0f the drawings Fig. l is a fragmentary side elevation of a part of the folding mechanism embodying the invention;

Fig. 9. is a view partly in elevation and partly in section taken substantially on the line 2-2 of .Fig `3;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary vertical section taken substantially on the line 2%3 of F ig. 1;.

Fig. i is a fragmentary horizontal section taken substantially on the line at-ll of Fig. l

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional detail, greatly enlarged, taken on the line 5 5 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 6 is a detached detail perspective of one of the positioning wedges.

The exemplary illustrated mechanism embodies mainly a rotary member taking and carrying the bundle or stack of sheets constituting the newspaper or the like, and having mount-ed therein a rotatable tucking blade which is actuated at the proper' time to medianly and'transversely fold the stack or bundle of sheets into the bite of a pair of folding rollers, thereby folding and feeding` off the sheets in the usual manner, together with novel improvements in said structure.

By the present invention, one of the two folding rollers is movable to and from the so as to fold properly stacks or groups varying relatively greatly in the number of sheets contained therein. This is effected preferably in connection with a resilient mounting for one or both folding rollers, although this is not essential.

In connection with the fixed folding roll ers and the positionable folding rollers, means are provided for varying very nicely and minutely the time, and therefore the place, of actuation of the tucking blade, so that it will strike directly midway between the two folding rollers to give an accurately central fold irrespective of the distance apartof the two folding rollers.

The folding blade actuating means is a rotary disc cam having a plurality of cam slots therein adapted to cooperate in succession, that is, for successive folds, with the folding or tucking blade actuating mechanism, to make the successive folds. To vary or regulate the timeand place of actuation of the tucker blade, as described,

' the axis of the rotary cam is variably positionable parallel with itself and substantially angularly about the axis of rotation of the rotary tucker blade carrying member.

Other features of the invention will be set forth primarily in connection with the following detailed description, and it will be understood that the foregoing' general description andthe following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory but are not restrictive of the invention.

Referring now in detail to the embodiment of the invention illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings, the member which carries the sheet or usually the group or bundle of sheets preparatory to folding, and from which they are folded off,

comprises a cylinder l, the shaft 2 of which is journ-aled in bearings 3 at either end thereof, respectively, upon the side frames t of lthe machine. Suitable means are provided for holding the group or stack of sheets upon the cylinder, which means may be of any suitable kind or form, but are shown herein conventionally as grippers 5 adapted to engage with the lead end of the group or bundle of sheets. There are two such sets of grippers shown, a semi-circumference apart, the cylinder being also provided with two folding blades. A cutting cylinder 6 is shown conventionally, journaled in bearings 7 on the machine frame,

but it forms n part of the present invention, but may be used to cut the sheets from the associated webs at this point, if desired.

Rotatably mounted upon the cylinder 1 are two folding or tucking blades and 11, one bein shown atrest and the other performing t e folding operation, in Fig. 1 of the drawing. As embodied, the folding blades are double-edged, and make a halfrevolution relatively to the rotating folding cylinder for each fold. A shaft 12 is journaled in bearings 13 near either end thereof, these bearings being mounted in the foldy head or double arm 2O is fixed centrally of its length to the shaft 12. This head 2O has at either end thereof, respectively, outwardly projecting pins or rollers 21 and 22, adapted to cooperate with an actuating cam. The actuating cam comprises a circular disk 23, having a plurality of slots, shown as three 1n number, 24. 25 and 26, formed therein to cooperate with either the pin 21 or 22, already described. These slots are shownnon-radial and more or less tangential with respect to the disk.

The cani disk 23 is preferably fixed to or integral with a gear 27, which gear is rotatably carried on a stub shaft 28, supported in a hub 29, and held in position by a nut or nuts 30. The cam is rotated by the gearwheel 27, meshing with a gear wheel 31, fixed on the shaft 2 of the folding cylinder. A ring 32 is provided, and the pins 21 and 22 run against this except when engaging the cam 23, thus holding the tucking blade in the inoperative position. is known in the prior art.

Referring now to the embodied form of folding means, and in accordance with one feature'of the invention, mechanism is provided for efficiently folding newspapers or other products varying greatly in size, that is, in the number of sheets folded. For example, a particular newspaper may vary in different editions or issues from four pages to sixty-four pages although the differences are usually relatively not so great.

In the embodied form of this mechanism, and in accordance with yone principle of the invention, one of the folding rollers is journaled in a fixed relation or position, while the cooperating folding roller is movable to- This mechanism ward and away therefrom, to vary the distance between the two rollers to fold the varying number of sheets. The place or line of folding, or striking of the folding blade, is also angularly very accurately, and relatively minutely, positionable so that the blade will strike centrally and symmetrically between the two folding rollers notwithstanding the changes in position.

As embodied, the guide ring 32 for the operating pins or rollers 21 and 22 of the tucking blade, and the actuating cam 23 are mounted to have a common very accurate and relatively minute angular positional regulation. For this purpose, the ring 32 is fitted into a supporting and guiding frame 40, mounted on the machine frame. Ring 32 is fixed to its frame 40 by suitable means, such as screws 41, the ring being seated against the face of the frame 40 and fitting nicely within an exteriorly projecting annular rim or fiange 39 formed thereon.

Frame 40 has lugs or brackets 42 and 43, fixed thereto and extending outwardly therefrom, which bear upon the side frame 4, and having bolt-and-slot connections 44 and 45 therewith. The cam 23 is journaled on the shaft 28, as stated.l and the hub 29 of this shaft is fixed to and supported by the frame 40, the shaft having a reduced portion 47 passing through the hub, and held in position by a nut or nuts 48.

vln the embodied form of means for effecting the exact angular positioning, a lug 58 is fixed to the frame. 40, and has fixed thereto or integral therewith a hub 59, which is internally recessed. A rotatable member 60 passes through the recess, which member has a turning-head 61, and is also screwthreaded into a lug 63, formed on the frame piece 4. A collar 64 is fixed on the member 60 on the opposite side of the hub 59 from the head 61 to maintain the hub and member 60 `in fixed longitudinal relation while permitting member 60 to rotate. Thus when the member 6() is rotated, by reason of its screwthreaded engagement with the lug 62, the cam 23 and the guide ring 32 will be angularly moved very accurately a. very short distance; that is, half the distance by which the movable folding roller has been changed relatively to the fixed folding roller. At this time, the bolts 44 will be eased in their slots to permit the movement, and thereafter will be firmly screwed home.

Referring now to the embodied form of the folding rollers, and their mounting and actuating connections, a folding roller has its shaft 71 journaled in fixed bearings 72 and 73 upon the machine frame. The bearing 7 3 has therewithin a sleeve 74, encircling the shaft 71. A gear pinion 75 is fixed on shaft 71, and is driven in any suitable manner. Fixed also on shaft 71 .is a gear wheel 76, which meshes with a gear wheel 77, fixed on the .shaft 78 of the co.

operating folding rollers 79, although so far as concerns most features of the invention the folding roller 7 9 can be driven in any desired manner and without direct gear connection to the f-olding roller 70.

In the embodied form of mounting for the movable or positionable roller 79, it is also preferably Vprovided with resilient spring action. As embodied, the ends of its shaft 7 8 are journaled, respectively, in hubs 86 at either 4end thereof. These hubs are provided, respectively, with radially-projecting, cylindrical wrists or heads 87, which are reciprocably mounted in apertures in the inner heads of hollow cylinders 88.

Fixed to, and preferably integral with the wrists 87 are rods 90, projecting rearwardly therefrom .and located within the cylinders 88, the rear ends there-of projecting from the rear heads of the respective cylinders. Helical springs 91 encircle the respective rods 90 within their. cylinders 88 and are in compression between the inner ends of l the wrists 87 and the rear heads of the cylinly, and have recesses 101 therein and these recesses encircle the inner ends of the respective rods 90. Nuts 102l are screwthreaded onto the ends of rods 90 outside of the positioning wedges 100 so that the parts will move together. The nuts 102 serve also to regulate the action of the respective springs 91. Each wedge 100 has a hub 104 within which is alongitudinallyextending, screw-threaded aperture 105. A screw-rod 106, threaded right and left, is screwed intoithe apertures 105, and is provided with a bearing or support 107 on the machine frame. The structure, however, is carried on the rods 90 by means of the slots 101.

A hand-wheel 108 is fixed on the rod 106 for rotating same. Thus the roller 7 9 may be very nicely positioned with respect to roller to provide the desired foldingl opening therebetween for the particular number or thickness of sheets being folded, and by the screws 60, the cam 23 may be likewise tim-ed so that the tucking blade will always strike exactly midway in the space between the folding rollers. Thus through the hand-wheel 108 the space between the folding roll-ers 70 and 79 may be varied, as desired, to suit the number of sheets to be folded, and by means of the screw bolt 60, the folding blade may be made to strike accurately absolutely centrally of the space between the folding rollers.

The invention in its broader aspects is not limited to the specific mechanisms shown and described, but departures may be made therefrom within the scope of the accompanying claims without departing from the principles of the invention and without sacrificing its chief advantages.

What I claim is y 1. A rotary fol-ding mechanism including in combination .a rotary folding member, a rotary tucking blade carried thereby, a pair of cooperating' folding rollers, an actuating cam for the tucking blade geared to opera-te with the rotary folding member, and means for positively varying the place of actuation of the cam relatively to a folding roller.

2. A rotary folding mechanism including in combination a rotary folding member, a rotary tucking blade carried thereby, a pair of cooperating folding rollers, a rotary actuating cam for the tucking blade, and means for positively varying the place of actuation of the cam relatively to a folding roller.

3. A rotary folding mechanism including in combination a rotary folding member, a rotary tucking blade carried thereby, a pair of cooperating folding rollers, means for varying the distance between the folding rollers to fold papers of different thicknesses, an actuating cam for the` tucking blade, and means for varying the place of actuation of the cam relatively to a folding roller.-

4f, A rotary folding mechanism including in combinationa rotary folding member, a rotary tucking blade carried thereby, a pair of cooperating folding rollers, means for varying the distance between the folding rollers to fold papers of different thicknesses, a rotary .actuating cam for the tucking blade geared to operate with the rotary folding member, and means for varying the plac-eof actuation of the cam relatively to a folding roller.

5. A rotary folding mechanism including in combination a rotary folding member, a rotary tucking blade carried thereby, a pair of cooperating foldingl rollers, one foldingl roller being fixed andthe other folding roller being movable relatively thereto to fold papers of different thicknesses, an actuating cam for the tucking blade, and means for varying the place of actuation of the cam relatively to a folding roller.

6. A rotary folding mechanism including in combination a rotary folding member, a rotary tucking blade carriedthereby, a pair of cooperating folding rollers one folding roller being fixed and the other folding roller being movable relatively thereto to fold papers of different thicknesses a rotary actuating cam for the tucking blade geared to operate with the rotary folding member, and means for varyingthe place of actuation of the cam relatively to a folding roller.

llt)

7. A rotary folding mechanism includingin combination a rotary folding member, a rotary tucking blade carried thereby, a pair of cooperating folding rollers, an actuating cam having a plurality of actuating slots therein for operating the tucking blade, and means for positively varying the place of actuation of the cam relatively to a folding roller.

8. A rotary folding mechanism including in combination a rotary folding member, a rot-ary tucking blade carried thereby, a pair of cooperating folding rollers, an actuating cam for the tucking blade, and means for positively moving the cam for varying the place of actuation of the cam relatively to a folding roller. i

9. A rota-ry folding mechanism including in combination a rotary folding member, 'a rotary tucking blade carried thereby, a pair of cooperating folding rollers, means for varying the distance between the folding rollers to fold papers of different thicknesses, an actuating cam for the tucking blade, and means for moving` the cam for varying the place of actuation of the cam reiatively to a folding roller.

l0. A rotary folding mechanism including in combination a rotary folding member, a

rotary tucking blade carried thereby, a pair p Lof Cooperating folding rollers, one folding roller being fixed and the other fielding roller being movable relatively thereto to fold papers of differentthicknesses, an actuating cam for the tucking` blade, and means for moving the cam for varying the place of actuation of the cam relatively to a folding roller.

1l. A rotary folding mechanism including in combination a rotary folding member, a rotary tucking blade carried thereby, a pair of cooperating folding rollers, a rotary actuating cam for the tucking blade and means for positively and regulably movingthe axis of the cam for varying the place of actuation of the cam' relatively to a folding roller.

12. A rotary folding mechanism including in combination a rotary folding member, a rotary tucking blade carried thereby, a pair of cooperatingfolding rollers, means for varying the distance between the folding rollers to fold papers of different thicknesses, a rotary cam for the tucking blade, and means for regulably moving the axis of the cam for varying the place of actuation ofthe cam relatively to a folding roller. 13. A rotary folding mechanism including in combination a rotary folding member, a rotary tucking blade carried thereby, a pair cf cooperating folding rollers, a gear Wheel concentric with and connected to said rotary folding member, a rotary actuating cam for the ing blade, a gear pinion concentric with and connected to the cam, means for axially regulably positioning the cam to vary its place of operation, a pair of folding rollers, and means for varying the distance between them for folding papers of different thicknesses.

lll. A rotary folding mechanism including in combination a rotary folding member, a rotary tucking blade carried thereby, a pair of cooperating folding rollers, a gear Wheel concentric with and connected to said rotary folding member, a rotary actuating cam having an operating slot therein for the tuckng blade, a gear pinion concentric with and .conneet-ed to the cam, means for axially regulably positioning the cam to vary its place of operation, a pair of folding rollers, and means for varying the distancelbetvveen them for folding papers of different thicknesses.

15; A rotary folding mechanism including in combination a rotary folding member, a rotary tucking blade carried thereby, a pair of cooperating folding rollers, a gear Wheel concentric with and connected to said rotary folding member, a rotary actuating cam having a plurality of successively acting nen-radial operating slots vtherein for the tucking blade, a gear pinion concentric with and connected to the cam, means for axially vregulably positioning the cam to Varyfits place of operation, a pair of folding rollers, and means for varying the distance between them for folding papers of different thicknesses. y

In testimonywhereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

WILLIAM EvnNsEN. 

